Educational apparatus



Jan. 3, 1950 J. N. GONZALEZ 2,493,668

EDUCATIONAL APPARATUS Filed July l, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 3, 1950 J. N. GONZALEZ EDUCATIONAL APPARATUS Filed July l, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 tummy m5 vim lax vLW Patented Jan. 3, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDUCATIONAL APPARATUS Jose Nieto Gonzalez, Salamanca, Gto., Mexico Application July 1, 1946, Serial No. 680,770

3 Claims. l

This invention relates to improvements in educational apparatus.

It is an object of the invention to facilitate the selection of the correct datum out of a great number of data by arranging the data in a plurality of groups and providing means for Visually separating a group out of this plurality, and the correct datum out of the visually separated group.

In its application to the study oi languages, the invention has the object of arranging words of similar syntactic or grammatical character, as for instance, verbs, in a plurality of groups, each group showing the same verb in different tenses or forms, and to provide means for primarily selecting for any verb all of the different forms which are in the same groups, and secondarily singling out from the selected group that form only which it is to use. In this manner the conjugation of verbs may be said to be mechanized and the study of languages facilitated.

With these and other objects in view, an embodiment of the invention as applied to the study of the English language, is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and is referred to in the following specification:

Fig. l is a face view of a sheet showing a plurality of groups of verbs in different tenses or forms thereon;

Fig. 2 shows in front elevation, a selector sheet to facilitate the selection of any one of the group of verbs;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a second selector sheet;

Fig. 4 shows the application of a rst selector sheet to the base sheet illustrated in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 shows the application of both selector sheets to the base sheet of Fig. l.

By reference to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the invention is illustrated in its association with the study of verbs of the English language. number of different verbs are consecutively numbered in column I of the base sheet B. In the example illustrated, the various verbs are by way of illustration printed in column 2 in the form of their third person singular, present tense. Another column 3 contains the same verbs in the same sequence in the form of the present indicative, first person or infinitive. Column 1I contains the same verbs in the same sequence in their form of the past tense. The next column 6 contains the same verbs in the same sequence in the form of their past participle, and the last column 6 lists the same verbs in the same sequence in their form of the present participle. The base sheet B, therefore, contains a plurality of horizontal groups, each of the same verb, but the same verb being shown in different forms, and the base sheet also may be described as containing groups of different verbs in vertical alinement. The horizontal groups or rows each pertain to the same verb in diierent forms, While the vertical columns or groups pertain to the same form of different verbs.

The primary cover sheet or selector P is shown as comprising two flaps I and 8 of approximately the width as the base sheet B, and adapted to cover the greater number of the plurality of groups of data on the base sheet when properly applied to the same. This primary selector sheet P has in the front liap 'I or in both ilaps a horizontal opening indicated at 9 of a width large enough to permit inspection of an entire horizontal group of data printed on the base sheet while obstructing the data in the other horizontal and vertical groups above and below that group which is rendered visible through the window 9. This primary selector sheet P may, for instance, be applied in such manner that the fold I0 of the selector sheet engages the right hand edge II of the base sheet. This application is illustrated in Fig. 4 in which it is shown that the selector sheet is applied to single out of the plurality of horizontal groups or rows of data contained on the base sheet, the row containing the jvarious forms of the verb to count.

Even if this primary selector should not cover the entire printed face of the base sheet B, the appearance of data above or below the horizontal edges of the selector sheet P will not be disturbing, since through the provision of the horizontal window 9, the selected group is sufliciently set off from the remainder of the plurality of groups on the base sheet.

A secondary selector sheet S' is shown in Fig. 3, where it is illustrated as providing near its top edge an indication I2 showing for which selection of forms this secondary selector S may be used. This secondary selector sheet is provided with a plurality of cut-outs I3, which upon proper application of the selector sheet to the base sheet will be in register in the embodiment illustrated with the vertical group 6 of the groups printed on the base sheet I. Each cut-out I3 is located in a field I4'which is provided with data explaining the application of this form and containing additionally the auxiliary verbs where required for making use of the form displayed through the Window 'I in the proper conjugation of the selected form.

Thus, it Will be seen that for instance in the example illustrated, the secondary selector sheet .'S' is arranged to permit the selection of the verbs in the form of their present participle, and the Various fields I4 on the selector sheet show imjprints of the airmative forms, negative forms, etc., together with the proper auxiliary verbs employed in association with phrasesfmaleing cse cf 'the present participle.

A different selector sheet S" is illustrated iny Fig. 5 as being applied to the same base sheet; The selector sheet S bears near thetop a field; l5 with an indication showing that it is intended to be used for the past tense, and hence, that it would primarily be of value withtlie groin?, Qf verbs indicated at 4 in Fig. l. But, owing tothe lpeculiarities of the English language, the. form fof the verb in negative or interrogative phrases cells fccv the use the present tense form ef; the. teh. and it will he seen. therefore, that the cut-.fv cuts Hi and tl in the.v val-tiens; iields t8; ot the :selector S, are not in aliilement with each other.

The Secondary selector S er S" is applied with fits. telcel esige 2st tc eng-age. the left handedee itt ci the bese sheet. and to orerlie the primary :selector-B which.. is:brought4 into overlying relation with respect to-thebase sheet from the-right hand; edge 1.11 the-,usecf thedevcei thestudentwhe desires, tot lindtheV proper forni forl a certain, verb out Qi the. emule, 0f; verles. and, clit; 0f the groups of diiiererit. terms, will iirst apply the primary selector tesetcl the selected. verb, as indicated.- Eia, 4, He, willv then apply from; the opposite edge the; required.. seccrlclary. selector S2 or Sf, depending as. @whether he. desires a term. llc` the.` present cr past, tense. ci thefrescective verb? Figf, 5. illustrates that, the. secondari?, selector S" for. indicating, the past tenseV terms. oi the; verbs is. applied. in. such manner as. t0 Permit. the student to see the proper past affirmative form of the Verb "countedfs sincel the primary selector sheet P- had been previously applied to, display all ofA the forms ofl the saine verb.

Ii the student would have desired to nnd outA the proper form of; the verb count for the pastv tense in a negative phrase, the selectorsheet Sjwould have to' be shifted upwardly to bring tl'ley iield for the negative formsu in register withy the row of formso the selected Verb.

I claim:

11. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of a base sheet on which a plurality of verbs are arranged in vertical columns andy diierent forms' ofsaid Verbs are arranged horizontal: rows pertaining to said columns, a ilrst selector sheet having a horizontal cut-out extending over the1 width of the selector sheetand applicable to the base sheet to selectivelyv cover the data with the exception 01- theY data in one horizontal row displayed through said horizontal cut-out, and a second selector Sheet having a cut-out in alinement with a Vertical column of the base sheet and applicable to the combination of the base sheet and rst selector sheet and adapted to cover the forms of the selected row, with the exception of the form displayed through said cut-out.

2. In an apparatus 'of the character described, the combination of a base sheet on which are imprinted in vertical columns diiferent verbs and Yon which are imprinted different forms of the same verbs in horizontal rows, the forms of diiorent verbs pertaining to the same tense being alined each in a vertical column, a rst selector sheet applicable to the base sheet and being provided with a horizontal eut-out portion through which, depending upon the selected application of the selector sheet to the base sheet, an entire horizontal row of various forms of a rer@ .visible and a second selectorsheet provided with openings and applicable over the first selec-.tersheet t0. brine any selected opening into register with Vthe cut-out of the rst Selector 'checa the Openings of the second selector sheet, being arranged in columns, whereby the selectionr of a, certain form of a selected Verb is made possible.

3. In an apparatus of the character described. the eompination of a. lease sheet carrying a. pluraltr cf. verbs in one column and a plurality offfcrent ferm? 0f the same verbs in horizontal @We intersecting the column of the verbs, the. forms Qi the diierent. rows Valso being arranged Vertical, columns on. said sheet, a rst selectorsheet laterally applicable to the base sheet. and beine crowded with a, eut-out. throughV which uren application. te the base sheet a horizontal IQWJ of c ljilijerept forms of the sameY verbV is. visible thrceelfl said cutout., said selector sheer being displaceable vertical-ly relatively tothe base sheet, whereby through the eut-out different rows of terms pertaining to different verbs are rendered risible, while the other forms are covered. bysaid selector sheet, al pluralityY of second selector sheets, each carrying indications relating tothe tense-'to illihiphiV said second; selector sheet, pertains, said SQlf. -GIQQQI" Sheet. having cut-,outsarranged in columns and being movable verticallyrelative. tothe. named 'selector sheet, whereby upon l,calf displapenient, o said' second selector sheet relatively to said rst sheet, a form of the verbs a selected row of forrlris` is rendered visible.

JOSE NIETO GONZALEZ-J REFERENCES, CITED The following references le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS are of record in the,

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